CAF Confederation Cup
Amapakabo ‘Regains’ Rangers’ Job
In a twist of fate, Enugu Rangers’ estranged coach, Imama Amapakabo, may have returned to his duty post as club owners, the Enugu State Government has denied ever sacking him.
This is coming on Wednesday even as the coach had apparently surrendered to fate, if his twits on Monday are anything to consider.
One of such read: “Purpose God sent me here completed. I thank you lord for your grace, enablement to accomplish your work. Next assignment loading. #Godleads.”
Another read: “Purpose God sent me here completed. I thank you lord for your grace, enablement to accomplish your work. Next assignment loading. #Godleads”
As if he had completely given up, he twitted: “I sleep on a couch for close to 2 years on a job a night out of a job and I sleep on my bed for the first time like a baby. Hmmm.”
But in a dramatic twist, the Enugu State Government on Wednesday debunked reports in the media suggesting that Amapakabo had been sacked.
The Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, Charles Ndukwe, at the end of the State Executive Council meeting spoke to the contrary.
He stated that Amapakabo was only suspended by the state government based on the club’s recent run of poor performance which was also evident in their home match, last Sunday, against Zesco United Football Club of Zambia. The match had ended 2 – 2 despite Rangers earlier taking a two-goal lead.
Noting that a sack letter could not have been issued to the coach without the state government’s consent, the commissioner said, “the general manager has no right to sack a coach, and Enugu State government cannot take an abnormal action”.
He informed journalists that Mr. Chukwuma Agbo is presently the chief coach of the club, adding that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is interested in the welfare of the club and will do everything possible to restore its glory.
Algeria’s USM Alger continues to battle in what looked an hopeless situation in a bid to upturn a decision of the Committee for the Organization of Interclub Competitions and the Management of the Club Licensing System which awarded the first leg match of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final duel to the visiting RS Berkane of Morocco.
The continental body on Friday confirmed the verdict of the Organising Committee and thus threw away the appeal by Algeria.
The Appeal Committee of CAF rejected the Algerian club’s requests.
The USM Algiers club delegation has arrived Morocco through the the Oujda-Angad airport. They were warmly welcome by Moroccan officials led by Belaqchour, the President of the professional national league.
The team arrived at around 5 p.m., aboard a special plane from Algiers. Also on hand to receive them were officials of Berkane officials.
It took the Algerians just 15 minutes from landing to leaving the airport. They were greeted by a large number of fans.
The Algerians have an Herculean task of overturning a 3-0 deficit awarded to RS Berkane in the botched first leg match. The return leg match will hold on Sunday at the Berkane municipal stadium at 8 p.m.
The decision to play the second leg in Berkane comes as USM Alger seeks to avoid additional sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which could include a ban from participating in African competitions for up to four years.
Ghana’s Dreams FC coach, Karim Zito, announced on Friday that he is diligently preparing his players for a potential penalty shootout against Zamalek in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, scheduled for Sunday.
The first leg match concluded with a goalless draw between the two teams in Cairo last week, and the upcoming second leg will take place in Kumasi, ultimately determining the team that will qualify for the final.
“We ended with penalty shootouts, and out of the twenty-four (24) players, only three (3) of them could not score, so we are ready if it comes down to penalties,” Zito stated during an interview with Kumasi-based Akoma FM.
He further added, “Let me say that we are hoping to secure qualification in regulation time on Sunday.”
During the first leg game in Cairo, Zamalek missed several clear goal-scoring opportunities, leaving them with no alternative but to avoid a loss in Ghana in order to advance to the final of the competition.
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